Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Washington, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Washington, MI

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.2% more expensive than Washington, MI without rent, and 14.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.6% more expensive than Washington, MI without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.83 $17.83
16.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$44.54 $44.54
125.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.06 $9.06
32.12%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.38 $5.38
3.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.01 $2.01
54.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.93 $1.93
25.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.05 $4.05
69.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.61 $6.61
27.84%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.71 $0.71
46.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.01 $3.01
37.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.32 $4.32
27.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$1.46 $1.46
218.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.87 $9.87
45.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.22 $12.22
21.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.87 $19.87
-2.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.43 $4.43
16.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.48 $1.48
15.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.46 $3.46
27.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.11 $4.11
9.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.94 $3.94
-35.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.83 $4.83
-43.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.61 $2.61
-6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.05 $2.05
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.82 $9.82
54.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.86 $14.86
10.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2 $2
17.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.15 $3.15
17.46%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.79 $2.79
19.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.43 $1.43
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.92 $25.92
-1.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$33.7K $33.7K
-3.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$312 $312
-39.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.04 $49.04
29.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.9 $61.9
5.31%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.67 $42.67
79.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.86 $9.86
51.42%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$990 $990
108.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.5K $18.5K
111.37%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.7 $54.7
17.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.19 $46.19
13.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$110 $110
-13.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$141 $141
2.82%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,625 $1,625
46.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,346 $1,346
17.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,669 $2,669
78.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,232 $2,232
26.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,585 $2,585
38.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,247 $2,247
10.83%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Washington, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,939 $5,939
-11.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Washington, MI: October 27, 2025

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